Medicinal preparation particularly for the treatment of slipped discs hernias

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a product consisting in an injection medicinal formulations comprising at least one compound to provide a viscous formulation, ethanol and at least tungsten and/or tantalum metal making said formulation opaque to X rays so as to control its delivery and its action. Said formulation is in particular useful for treating herniated invertebral discs but also in intervention having demonstrated the efficacy of pure ethanol: treatment of hepatocellular tumours or osteoid osteomas, renal cysts and arterial-veinous angiomas.

The invention concerns a viscous injectable medicinal preparation containing ethanol and a compound opaque to X-rays.

It is more particularly but not exclusively applicable to the treatment of discal hernias as well as to interventional procedures where pure ethanol has been found to be an effective treatment of hepato-cellular tumours or osteoid osteomas, kidney cysts and arteriovenous angiomas.

Discal hernias are the main causes of back pains and sciaticas. They are usually related to multiple ergonomic and anatomic factors such as poor posture, abdominal and paraspinal muscle weakness, etc.

Traditional and surgical therapies are the treatment of choice in most cases. However, for certain patients with well-defined clinical and radiological criteria a percutaneous treatment can be offered.

The efficacy of percutaneous treatment for lumbar discal hernias by injection of an enzyme, chymopapain (nucleolysis: enzymatic alteration of an intervertebral disc), is well established. Nevertheless, patients with a history of allergy or those having already received nucleolysis treatment can not take advantage of this procedure.

With regard to the necrosing effect of ethanol on biological tissues, absolute alcohol (anhydrous ethanol) has been used as an effective therapeutic agent in many interventional procedures such as sclerosis of the ganglia and nerves; ablation of liver tumours and kidney tumours; preoperative treatment for vertebral tumours; arteriovenous, peripheral, visceral and brain malformations, etc.

One team recently considered the use of these therapeutic properties in the treatment of back disorders. They treated lumbar discal hernias with intradiscal injections of absolute alcohol with very promising results. This percutaneous procedure has a number of advantages:

Nonetheless, ethanol, because of its properties, can diffuse at a distance from its target and cause necrosis of healthy cells. This is why the team using pure ethanol contraindicated its use for discal hernias with epidural leakage as revealed by discography as well as in cases of cervical discal hernias.

-   -   no allergic complication,     -   no local septic complication,     -   less post-treatment pain,     -   no shrinkage of the interdiscal space,     -   no inflammatory complication,     -   a shorter clinical recovery time.

Moreover, the use of alcohol in the treatment of hepato-cellular tumours can cause thrombosis of the portal vein by diffusion of the product into the venous system.

One of the applicant's objectives is to avoid the side effects of ethanol in this disorder, in other words necrosis of healthy tissues that occurs as a result of diffusion at a distance from the target as well as to reinforce effectiveness.

To this end, the applicant has tested several thickeners and is proposing an injectable medicinal preparation which comprises at least one compound used to make the preparation viscous, ethanol and at least one compound making said preparation opaque to X-rays in order to manage its administration and action.

Advantageously, viscosity limits diffusion of the preparation to a specific area and reinforces its therapeutic effect.

This preparation thus has the dual advantage of offering an active principle with limited diffusion and a marker to be able to better monitor injection as the therapist performs the procedure and, most importantly, for post-treatment monitoring of the exact location of the injected product with the aid of a scanner.

The compounds used to make the preparation opaque to X-rays can be inert compounds such as tungsten or tantalum metal, tungsten oxide or tantalum oxide, preferably tungsten or tantalum metal.

These compounds can be added for example in powder form either at the end of the preparation manufacturing process or immediately prior to injection.

Cellulose derivatives, preferably Ethylcellulose, were selected as the compounds (excipient) used to achieve the required viscosity. This choice is based on several criteria:

-   -   their hydrophilic nature, given the fact that the preparation is         for injection,     -   their thickening capacity which has to be sufficient, even when         present in small amounts, to increase the mixture's viscosity,     -   cellulose derivatives are water-soluble in vitro and therefore         circumvent the need for surgical resection of the treated area,     -   they are, in particular ethylcellulose, in the form of a powder         and not a liquid in order not to dilute the ethanol,     -   a certain degree of solubility in ethanol so as to obtain a         homogeneous preparation,     -   systemic and/or local toxic effects reduced to a minimum, and         preferably non-existent, in order not to compromise tolerance to         the preparation.

These compounds can be added for example in powder form either at the end of the preparation manufacturing.

Consequently, the preparation according to the invention fulfils the required criteria, which are safety of use in all phases of the process and the ability to produce stable and selective sclerosis.

As previously mentioned the viscous injectable medicinal preparation according to the invention also comprises a compound opaque to X-rays. This compound opaque to X-rays is an inert compound selected from the group consisting of tungsten or tantalum metal, tungsten or tantalum oxide, and mixtures thereof, preferably tungsten metal or tantalum metal and mixtures thereof.

These compounds opaque to X-rays are generally in a fine powder form allowing injection of the preparation. Preferably, the compound opaque to X-rays is micronized tungsten. The amount of compound opaque to X-rays in the preparation is at least the minimum amount, which allows a correct visualisation technique, when using the common X-rays medical visualisation techniques. These techniques are well known by the specialist, which is able to determine the appropriate amount of X-rays opaque compound to be used by simple routine experiments.

Usually, the minimum amount of X-rays opaque compound to be used, when using tungsten or tantalum micronized powder ranges from 10 mg/ml to 300 mg/ml of gel (ethanol and ethylcellulose) or in other words from 1% weight to 35% weight based on the total weight of the preparation.

One mode of implementation of the invention, given as a non-limiting, example, will be described hereinafter:

FIG. 1 represents measurement of viscosity expressed in pharmaceutical units as a function of concentration given as the percentage of ethylcellulose weight with respect to total weight;

FIG. 2 represents measurement of viscosity expressed in pharmaceutical units as a function of temperature given in degrees Celsius.

Choice of Excipients Used in the Preparation

Six products registered in the European Pharmacopoeia 3^(rd) edition (1999) and fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria were chosen for evaluation as an excipient (Table I). Each of these was tested for solubility in hot/cold ethanol. In addition, the physico-chemical compatibility of substances in contact with each other (by visual evaluation) and the approximate viscosity of the mixture were also examined.

TABLE I Products tested for gel manufacture Products Commercial references Suppliers Hydroxycellulose Klucel MF EP ® Aldrich Klucel HF EP ® Ethylcellulose Aqualon 100 NF ® Hercules Polysorbate Montanox 80 ® Seppic Colloidal Silica Aérosil R972 ® Degussa France Aérosil R200 ® Carboxypolymethylene Carbopol 940 ® Gattefosse Carbopol 934 ® Polyethyleneglycol Lutrol E4000 ® BASF France Lutrol E6000 ®

The results of various tests are summarized in Table II. All the products tested were soluble in hot ethanol. Only ethylcellulose was also more or less soluble in cold ethanol. Moreover, the physico-chemical compatibility of the mixture (absence of precipitation) was good and viscosity was satisfactory. This is why ethylcellulose was considered to be the most suitable product.

TABLE II Characteristics of products tested Solubility in ethanol Products Cold Hot Visual examination Hydroxypropylcellulose − + After cooling, − + non-homogeneous Ethylcellulose ± + Clear gel Polysorbate − + Very low viscosity Colloidal Silica − + Only becomes viscous − + a few days later Carboxypolymethylene − + Precipitates after − + neutralisation Polyethyleneglycol − + Precipitates on cooling − +

Manufacture of the Preparation

Several preparations at different ethylcellulose concentrations were made up by dissolving 0.15, 0.45 and 0.75 g in 15 mL of ethanol with a purity of 70 to 99% by volume and preferably 95% (d=0.8), that is 1.22, 3.61 and 5.88% by weight of the preparation's total weight.

The preparation with the highest ethylcellulose concentration was chosen. A loss of 2.5% on distribution into bottles was observed, that is proportions of 205 mL of 95° alcohol (% volume) and 10.25 g of ethylcellulose per forty bottles.*

In accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (1998), the preparation was manufactured in three stages: gel preparation, aseptic distribution and sterilization of the product in the final packaging. To start with, the excipient (ethylcellulose) was mixed by magnetic stirring with hot ethanol in a sterile ground-glass neck flask and refluxed until completely dissolved. The mixture was stirred and refluxed for 15 minutes then stirred until it cooled down completely in order to allow recondensation of the alcohol in the flask. It was then packaged under a horizontal laminar flux hood into 5 mL sterile bottles (Bioblock 42065). Finally, in accordance with European Pharmacopoeia recommendations, the bottles were sterilized in an autoclave using saturated vapour at 121° C. for 20 minutes.

The final step in the manufacturing process of the preparation is the addition of a powdered opacifying compound such as tantalum oxide or tungsten oxide in varying proportions so as to obtain good opacity. This addition can take place either at the end of the manufacturing process prior to packaging or just before carrying out the injection.

As these compounds are inert and used in very small amounts, they do not significantly alter the results of the tests described below and carried out on the preparation prior to their addition.

Tests Carried Out

The conformity of the preparation was verified by means of a sterility test and chemical and physico-chemical tests.

In accordance with European Pharmacopoeia recommendations, the possible presence of any contaminants was investigated by culturing 4 mL of the preparation in 250 mL of tryticase-soya broth for aerobic germs, thioglycate for anaerobic germs and Sabouraud for yeasts.

The results of the sterility test confirmed the absence of any contaminants in the preparation.

Alcohol content was determined after dilution of a sample and incorporation of the internal standard, propanol-1, by gas chromatography with detection by flame ionisation. Separation was by means of a Porapak Q column (80-100 mesh, length 3 m) with nitrogen as the carrier gas (1.2 bar) on a Delsi DN200 apparatus.

The alcohol assay gave a value of 802 g.L⁻¹.

The specific assay for the viscosity additive was not performed but the concentration was estimated by means of the dry residues method, a process which consists in evaporating ethanol in a tank whose temperature was maintained at 110° C. until the sample reached constant weight.

The dry residues method allowed a correlation to be made between the theoretical ethylcellulose concentration and the experimentally measured concentration, that is 5.88% by weight of the sample's total weight.

The viscosity of the preparation was measured by means of a Baumé capillary viscosimeter (Prolabo). Several series of measurements were performed at different temperatures and different concentrations of the thickener.

The viscosity measurements showed that, at constant temperature, the preparation increased exponentially as a function of ethylcellulose content (FIG. 1). However, it decreased, also exponentially, when the temperature increased (FIG. 2).

Finally, the physico-chemical stability study was carried out by means of analysis as a function of time of the changes in the parameters defining the preparation, on other words viscosity, ethanol content and viscosity agent. The measurements were repeated on day 1 (D1), day eight (D8), day fifteen (D15) and day thirty (D30).

The results are given in Table III. The coefficients of variation, below 3%, prove that the mixture is stable up to D30, which will allow an expiry date for the preparation to be determined.

TABLE III Physico-chemical parameters as a function of time Dry DR/W_(ech) C_(ethanol) V_(éch) W_(ech) D_(ech) residue ratio Viscosity Date (g · L⁻¹) (mL) (g) (g · mL⁻¹) DR (g) (%) (cP)* D 1 784 2 1.650 0.825 0.101 6.10 320 D 8 821 2 1.720 0.850 0.103 5.97 339.5 D 15 783 2 1.610 0.800 0.097 6.00 — D 30 820 2 1.670 0.830 0.099 5.92 332 Mean 802 — 1.663 0.826 0.100 5.998 330.5 Standard 21.370 — 0.046 0.021 0.002 0.076 9.836 deviation Coefficient 2.665 — 2.751 2.489 2.458 1.265 2.976 of variation *cP: pharmaceutical unit

Injection of the preparation into the lumbar disc led to decreased intradiscal pressure and, therefore, to reduced back pain caused by disc hernias.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

Thus the expressions “means to means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for the treatment of disc hernias comprising a step of administering, to a patient in need thereof, a viscous non-toxic preparation comprising: (1) ethanol, (2) ethyl cellulose at a concentration ranging from 0.5% to 15% by weight of the total weight of the preparation, and (3) at least one inert compound making the preparation opaque to X-rays, wherein the ethanol and the ethyl cellulose form a homogenous mixture.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inert compound making the preparation opaque to X-rays is a material based on tungsten, tantalum or both tungsten and tantalum.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the inert compound making the preparation opaque to X-rays is a tungsten and/or tantalum metal.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the amount of tungsten and/or tantalum metal ranges from 1% to 35% based on the total weight of the preparation.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein ethylcellulose is at a concentration ranging from 1.22% to 5.88% by weight of the total weight of the preparation.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the said compound making the said preparation opaque to X-rays consists of a tungsten metal.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein ethanol has purity ranging from 70% to 99% (v/v).
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein ethanol has a purity of 95% (v/v).
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the said viscous non-toxic preparation is administered by injection.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the said viscous non-toxic preparation is administered by intradiscal injection, whereby causing a decreased intradiscal pressure.
 11. The method according to claim 2, wherein ethylcellulose is at a concentration ranging from 1.22% to 5.88% by weight of the total weight of the preparation.
 12. The method according to claim 4, wherein the said compound making the said preparation opaque to X-rays consists of a tungsten metal.
 13. The method according to claim 2, wherein ethanol has purity ranging from 70% to 99% (v/v).
 14. The method according to claim 2, wherein ethanol has a purity of 95% (v/v).
 15. The method of claim 4 wherein the inert compound making the preparation opaque to X-rays is a tungsten and/or tantalum metal.
 16. The method of claim 3, wherein ethylcellulose is at a concentration ranging from 1.22% to 5.88% by weight of the total weight of the preparation.
 17. The method of claim 3, wherein the said compound making the said preparation opaque to X-rays consists of a tungsten metal.
 18. The method of claim 3, wherein ethanol has purity ranging from 70% to 99% (v/v).
 19. The method of claim 3, wherein the said viscous non-toxic preparation is administered by injection.
 20. The method of claim 3, wherein the said viscous non-toxic preparation is administered by intradiscal injection, whereby causing a decreased intradiscal pressure. 